Automatic pressure-regulating valve



Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

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UNITED STATES \YARREN b.

PATENT rica.

JOHNSON, OF MITAVAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC PR ESSURE-REGU LATING VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,805, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed October 31, 1888, $erial No. 289,667. (No model.)

To all whom it may 0077 06771 Be it known that I, ARREN S. JOHNSON, of lliilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Pressure- Regulating Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those automatic valves which are used for regulating or reducin g the pressure of ii uids delivered th rough them.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve which shall be at once simple, sensitive,

and reliable.

To this end it consists in the combination of a tubular balanced valve and a diaphragm in the peculiar form and manner hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical axial section through a regulator constructed on my plan. Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section through the valve proper, show- Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the parts represented in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the valve-body, having the inlet-throat a and outlet-throat I), separated by the intermediate septum, c, as usual. The body is provided with two vertical valve seats or throats, (l and e, the former through the septum for the passage of the fluid and the latter through the top of the body.

B is the verticall y-1novin g valve, having the two cylindrical or piston-like ends and a reduced central portion with guiding-ribs thereon, as usual. Its upper end is fitted within and constantly closes the upper seat or throat, 6, while its lower end, of the same diameter, rises and falls through the lower seat or throat, (I, to open and close the same, and

thereby controlling the passage of fluid the fluid in the body at its delivery side may pass upward through the center of the valve into a top ehamber,'(l, to act upon the diaphragm D, from which the valve is suspended. The construction of the chamber 0 and the details of the connections between the diaphragm and valve are not of the essence of the invention, and maybe modified. I prefer, however, the construction shown in the drawings, in which the valve is connected at its lower end by a gimbaljoint, f, or other universal joint to the central spindle, g,which is extemled upward through the valve and adjustably secured into a nut, 72, fixed'to the center of the diaphragm, so that the valve may be raised or lowered in relation to the diaphragm. A jam-nut, 2', on the spindle h serves to lock it in position and prevent its accidental movement. The diaphragm, of rubber or similar flexible material, is contained at its edges between the upper and lower cap-like parts 0 c, which are secured together, and which jointly form the chamber C. The lower member, 0, is formed with a central tubular neck, which is secured fast into a neck on the body A.

If the valve is to be adjustable to work under different pressures, I attach to the diaphragm, either through the nut h or otherwise, an upright spindle, 7;, and mount thereon a spiral spring, which is in turn seated within and compressed by a tubular screw, m, threaded into the top of the chamber 0, and provided at its outer end with a hand-wheel, by which it may be adjusted in order to cause the sprin to exert moreless downward pressure on the diaphragm. The upper end of the spindle may be guided by a screw in the central hole in the hand-wheel, as shown.

The fluid to be regulated passes into the valve-lmdy tlnrough the throat a and escapes through the throat I).

It will be observed that when the va1ve-is closed the pressure thereon is balanced or equalized in all directions, and that there is no tendency of the pressure upon the valve to either open or close the same. Owing, however, to the back-pressure of the fluid in the delivery side of the body, which has already passed the valve, it rises centrally through the valve proper into the chamber 0 and acts against the under side of the diaphragm. As I reaching the diaphragm.

long as the proper pressure is maintained at the delivery side of the valve, the diaphragm holds the valve proper in its closed position. \Vhenever the pressure at the delivery side :talls below the predetermined limit, so as to lessen the pressure on the under side of the diaphragm, the valve, either by its gravity alone, or by its gravity supplemented by the downward pressure of the spring, descends and opens the throat (I, permitting the fluid to How through the body from the inlct-port.

By adjusting the tension of the spring the valve may be caused to maintain any desired pressure at the delivery side. \Vhen my valve is used for controlling steam-pressure,

any water resulting from condensation in the chamber can escape downward through the interior of the valve B into the lower part of the body, from which it may drawn in any suitable manner.

The connection of the valve to its spindle by auniversal joint prevents it from binding in its seats in the event of the spindle or the other connecting parts being out of line.

The adj ustability of the valve B in relation to the controlling-diaphragm is of advantage in that it admits of the valve being adjusted to open to a greater or less extent, and also of its being raised to compensate for the sagging of the diaphragm, as required.

In practice I find that in operating a regu- 3 lator under light pressures and where extremely delicate regulations are d emanded, it is advantageous to use the valve of tubular form adapted to open the lower throat but keep the upper throat constantlyclosed, so that the infiowing fluid is compelled to pursue an intricate and retrograde course before It is to be observed that in my valve the upper throat, 6, leads from the receiving side of the valve-body directly outward through its top into the diaphragm-chamber, so that the upper end of the valve proper is subjected to the pressure of the fluid in said chamber.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is' l. The valve-body having the throat cl for the passage of the fluid therethrough, and

also an independent throat, a, leading from the inlet side directly to the outsicleof the body, the diapliragm-chambcr communicating with the throat c on the outside of the body,

the diaphragm, the valve having its upper g 5 end adapted to constantly close the throat e and its lower end adapted to open and close throat (Z, and having also a passage through its interior from the delivery Side of the valvebody to the diaphragm-chamber, and a stem connecting the valve and diaphragm, said iparts combined for joint operation. as described and shown.

2. The body, the balanced tubular valve applied, as described and shown, the diaphragm-ehamber, and thediaphragm, in combination with the adjustable screw-connection to change the relations of the diaphragm and valve, and the independent adj ustable spring 1 to depress the diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this th day of October, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

WARREN JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

L. F. l rsn, 1:1. ERSKINE. 

